Ugandan athlete Rebecca Cheptegei is in a crucial situation in a Kenyan hospital, after allegedly being doused with petrol and set on fireplace by a former boyfriend.
The 33-year-old marathon runner, who competed on the latest Paris Olympics, had suffered intensive burns, the physician treating her stated.
She was attacked at her residence in western Kenya, the place she had been coaching.
There are considerations concerning the rising circumstances of violence in opposition to feminine athletes in Kenya, a few of which have resulted in demise.
Ms Cheptegei is alleged to have been rescued by neighbours after the incident that occurred on Sunday at her residence within the small city of Endebess.
She was getting back from church together with her two kids when she was focused.
The alleged attacker additionally sustained severe burns, native police chief Jeremiah ole Kosiom advised journalists.
“The couple have been heard quarrelling outdoors their home. Through the altercation, the boyfriend was seen pouring a liquid on the girl earlier than burning her,” Mr Kosiom was quoted as saying.
Ms Cheptegei, from a area simply throughout the border in Uganda, is alleged to have purchased a bit of land in Trans Nzoia county and constructed a home, to be close to Kenya’s many athletic coaching centres.
A report filed by an area administrator stated the 2 had been wrangling over the piece of land. Police say an investigation is below method.
The 2 are being handled at Moi Instructing and Referral Hospital in Eldoret, the principle city within the area.
The hospital’s senior director of medical providers Dr Owen Benach advised journalists that “a high-profile affected person” had been “absolutely sedated due to the extent of the burns”. He stated the hospital was well-equipped to cope with the tough state of affairs that each sufferers have been in.
Speaking to reporters, Ms Cheptegei’s father, Joseph Cheptegei, stated that he prayed “for justice for my daughter”.
Ms Cheptegei completed forty fourth within the marathon on the latest Paris Olympics.
She additionally received gold on the World Mountain and Path Working Championships in Chiang Mai, Thailand, in 2022.
In April 2022, one other feminine runner, Damaris Mutua, was discovered strangled in a house with a pillow over her face within the Rift Valley city of Iten.
It got here months after record-breaking long-distance runner Agnes Tirop was discovered stabbed to demise in the identical city.
In each circumstances, their companions have been recognized by the authorities as the principle suspects.
Ms Tirop’s husband is at present dealing with homicide expenses, which he denies, whereas a seek for Ms Mutua’s boyfriend continues.
Males have additionally been focused.
Final December, one other Ugandan athlete, Benjamin Kiplagat was stabbed to demise by assailants in Eldoret.
Extra reporting by the BBC’s Celestine Karoney.
